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sparklefarm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
3rd read through:
Just as relevant and affecting as always.
2nd read through:
Perks of running your own book club include choosing to make your favorite book the selection. Did this novella get even favorit-er the second time around? Yes. Yes, it did. This post-dystopian world and its characters are so full of hope. Everything is three dimensional and lush and I love it so much.
Probably going to read this one again. and again.
1st read through:
Wow.
This was incredible.
The writing was delicious, the analogies delightful...I was just drawn in. There was a moment so devastating I had to stop reading for a few days. That being said, I want to live in this story. It made me fall in love with spaceflight all over again. The scientific considerations seemed probable, I learned things about space, and excellent ethical quandaries never hurt anyone.
You have to accept the fact that any movement creates waves, and the only other option is to lie still and learn nothing.
Just as relevant and affecting as always.
2nd read through:
Perks of running your own book club include choosing to make your favorite book the selection. Did this novella get even favorit-er the second time around? Yes. Yes, it did. This post-dystopian world and its characters are so full of hope. Everything is three dimensional and lush and I love it so much.
Probably going to read this one again. and again.
1st read through:
Wow.
This was incredible.
The writing was delicious, the analogies delightful...I was just drawn in. There was a moment so devastating I had to stop reading for a few days. That being said, I want to live in this story. It made me fall in love with spaceflight all over again. The scientific considerations seemed probable, I learned things about space, and excellent ethical quandaries never hurt anyone.
You have to accept the fact that any movement creates waves, and the only other option is to lie still and learn nothing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn’t know what to expect from the blurb, but I think going in blind and letting the story unfold before you is the perfect way to experience this book. This is the kind of book that reminds me why I love scifi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Confinement
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual content
hanz's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts
maeverose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was so fun. Now I just wanna go visit other planets… science can you advance a little faster pls?
TL;DR — Themes/Features:
-s c i e n c e
-planet exploration
-little alien creatures
-discussions on humanity
-lgbtq rep (ace, bi/pan, trans)
-non monogamous relationship
This is a book about humanity, our relationship to science, and as always with Becky Chamber’s books it touches a bit on politics and ethics, which I love.
It’s also a book about a group of astronauts looking for and studying life on other planets. Lots of descriptions of different kinds of environments and the creatures that live there.
If you’re a space or biology nerd I think you’d love this book. It has a decent focus on the science, definitely more than Becky Chamber’s other books. On the other hand it’s not inaccessible on that front either. I’m fascinated by science but not very knowledgeable on it and I understood everything perfectly fine. It’s explained in a very accessible way.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“We walked for a time, our footsteps echoing in all directions. Had there been such echoes in this canyon before? I wondered. Was the air here accustomed to carrying sounds beyond those it created on it’s own?”
(On leaving no trace:)
“What if the exact place where your craft landed is where two bacteria of separate species met for the first time, and what if their meeting would have resulted in a symbiosis that would have led to the emergence of a new species, and you, you bastard, just wiped out that entire reality?”
(Followed a moment later by:)
“At some point, you have to accept the fact that any movement creates waves, and the only other option is to lie still and learn nothing.”
“The walls were made of thick glass, and behind it was the dense network you find below every forest. Roots interlocking like fingers, with gossamer fungus sprawled symbiotically between, allowing for the peaceful exchange of carbon and nutrients. Worms traversed roads of their own making. Pockets of water and pebbles decorated the scene. This is what a forest is, after all. Don’t believe the lie of individual trees, each a monument to it’s own self-made success. A forest is an interdependent community. Resources are shared, and life in isolation is a death sentence.”
TL;DR — Themes/Features:
-s c i e n c e
-planet exploration
-little alien creatures
-discussions on humanity
-lgbtq rep (ace, bi/pan, trans)
-non monogamous relationship
This is a book about humanity, our relationship to science, and as always with Becky Chamber’s books it touches a bit on politics and ethics, which I love.
It’s also a book about a group of astronauts looking for and studying life on other planets. Lots of descriptions of different kinds of environments and the creatures that live there.
If you’re a space or biology nerd I think you’d love this book. It has a decent focus on the science, definitely more than Becky Chamber’s other books. On the other hand it’s not inaccessible on that front either. I’m fascinated by science but not very knowledgeable on it and I understood everything perfectly fine. It’s explained in a very accessible way.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“We walked for a time, our footsteps echoing in all directions. Had there been such echoes in this canyon before? I wondered. Was the air here accustomed to carrying sounds beyond those it created on it’s own?”
(On leaving no trace:)
“What if the exact place where your craft landed is where two bacteria of separate species met for the first time, and what if their meeting would have resulted in a symbiosis that would have led to the emergence of a new species, and you, you bastard, just wiped out that entire reality?”
(Followed a moment later by:)
“At some point, you have to accept the fact that any movement creates waves, and the only other option is to lie still and learn nothing.”
“The walls were made of thick glass, and behind it was the dense network you find below every forest. Roots interlocking like fingers, with gossamer fungus sprawled symbiotically between, allowing for the peaceful exchange of carbon and nutrients. Worms traversed roads of their own making. Pockets of water and pebbles decorated the scene. This is what a forest is, after all. Don’t believe the lie of individual trees, each a monument to it’s own self-made success. A forest is an interdependent community. Resources are shared, and life in isolation is a death sentence.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Confinement
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Cursing, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, Blood, and Medical content
Detailed descriptions of moth metamorphosis, descriptions of animal and human internal anatomy in a scientific way (I didn’t find it to be gory, and I really don’t like gore so it’s probably fine but it’s there jsyk)dacha's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
finally a real story about space exploration, the kind star trek was supposed to be
this shows a side of humanity that doesn't exist, gentle, peaceful and out of capitalism
life on earth could be hard but the crew tries to do his best to do better, to respect the worlds they discover. they take care of each others, even if it's hard, even when hope could be gone and that's so good to read how can they love and trust their comrades
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, and Suicidal thoughts
potatogrr's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Confinement and Abandonment
iaraya's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death, Body horror, War, and Death of parent
The space exploration mission lasts for 80 years. The characters deal with the fact that when they return, most people they know will be dead.breezer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Loved everything but the ending, sadly I found it depressing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Animal death
meowster's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, and Confinement
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual content
lilly_anne's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Death and Grief